Women's Role In World War II

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The World War II, which was going on between US and Japan, brought terror, sacrifices, and took men away from their homes on to the battle field. As a result, US had a shortage of workers, especially for the weapon industry that would create ammunition, ships, aircrafts, and other war related necessities. That was the time when the government thought of women. They went to each women’s door to bring them to work in different industries, so that their economy keep booming, and their industries keep running to provide supplies for war. Women’s role dramatically changed due to the World War II as they were moved from homes to ammunition industries where they were discriminated on the basis of race and gender by either getting paid less or given…show more content…
Almost all of the jobs were reserved for men, and women were considered weak and were not allowed to work outside the house. There were many highly educated women, but they were not given opportunities to use their education to join the workforce. However, due to a national crisis women were brought into the workforce. According to Nichols (1993), “In the face of the fervent demands of wartime production, and the social and ideological barriers that had kept women off the factory were broken” (P.54). Women were given opportunities to learn new skills and show how they can also contribute their effort to help their nation. Gardiner (1986) also explained the reason for women entering the workforce by stating that, “The war was an accelerator, a forcing house for change, the state intervened to release women from their homes for war work” (p. 56). The government officials started the “Rosie the Riveter” campaign to motivate women to come out from the comfort zone of their house. The campaign stressed in different newspaper,…show more content…
According to Nichols (1993), “Women took on jobs as riveters, machinists, assemblers, building bombers and tanks” (p. 54). They took on jobs that require physical strength and fulfil the role of men in their absence. In addition to the bulk of duties that were offered to women as of welders, heavy machinery operators, and riveters, they have to maintain their domestic work life. Field (1980) explained it very well by stating, “Though women were now workers in the public sphere, there was still a home to be cleaned, food to be cooked, and children to be taken care of.” Women were expected to balance and get positive results from both duties assigned to them and become master of both

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